ROXAS City – Aiming to uplift the economic condition of indigenous peoples (IPs) in Mount Tag-ao, Dumarao, Capiz, the National Program Management Office of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Kaunlaran at Kabuhayan ng Kababayang Katutubo (4Ks) conducted a site validation and coordination meeting recently.
According to DA-4Ks National Director Evarnnie Jay Belarmino, the primary purpose of the community visit was to dialogue with indigenous peoples (IPs) to learn their current economic situation and validate some government interventions.
The Karibuhan Kae Mimi Ati Ki Dumarao is the organization of the Tamulalod minorities with 148 families (377 total population) registered at the Department of Labor and Employment and the National Commission on Indigenous People.
The direction of the DA-4Ks program is to develop ancestral domain areas of various IP groups through transferring technologies and machinery on farming and livestock production, ultimately creating sustainable livelihood.
“DA is here to share knowledge about farming and livestock production. Technical knowledge transfer may be challenging at first, but we have to do it repeatedly. I appeal that you join us whenever we have trainings and seminars,” Belarmino told the Capiz IPs.
Belarmino also assured them that the DA recognizes their cultural practices in farming.
“Your dream is to increase your farm yield using your indigenous knowledge and practices. On our part, we wish to increase your crop production using the science of agriculture, but both can be employed and coexist,” said Belarmino.
The DA in Western Visayas has delivered over P15 million worth of interventions to six IP organizations in Capiz. Karibuhan Kae Mimi Ati ki Dumarao has received projects such as livestock production technology training, vegetable production technology training, value-adding training on vegetable.
DA distributed 15 heads of CaraCow with implements (plow and harrow), 32 heads of CaraCow, and 27 heads of CaraDairy. It also delivered a unit of corn sheller.
During the dialogue, Tumalalods appealed to speed up the registration of the Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title so that the IP group could secure more sustainable projects with the help of various government agencies.
They also requested for an IP livestock technician to help them understand livestock health management. (DA-6/PN)
